Efficient water closet

ABSTRACT

A water conserving toilet system is provided that increases water pressure applied to evacuating solids in the toilet bowl by a multiplicity of approaches including an optimally shaped and located water storage tank, an optimally shaped water feeding channel. In this way, the present invention increase and makes better use of the potential energy of the stored water. Moreover, means are provided to assemble the water tank to the toilet base with fastening means that do not touch the water, thereby making installation easier and reducing the risk of leaks.

CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Utility patent application claims priority to Mexico patentapplication number GT/a/2003/000012 by Benjamin Arellano Zajur

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally the mechanic engineering field.More particularly, the invention relates to hydraulic engineering bybeing a device that allows saving the water consumption in a toilet,which is a system for eliminating organic residues.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional toilet has long been in use, largely unchanged. Morethan 4000 years ago the Cretens had already made some sort of toilet inthe government palace in Cnossos. It was made with a cistern bowl and adrain duct. In other civilizations, like China and India, there werealso similar systems but it was not until the XVII century that acloacae system served private housing.

The first toilet which can be considered as one was invented by theEnglish John Harrington, who in 1597 developed a “water closet” valve,which was installed in the government palace of Isabel I in Richmond.

In 1775 John Cummings patented a cistern system, having it perfected in1778 by Samuel Prosse, with its spherical valve. Seventy years latter,and by the British Public Health Department, it was mandatory to installa toilet service in every house that was built. By around 1890, it wasalready used in all Europe.

Conventional toilet systems work with a siphon that maintains the waterlevel, and seals the system against bad odors by keeping water at theentrance of the siphon at all times, thereby acting as a seal. When thesystem allows water to fill its water storage tank, the level of thebowl's mirror increases, thereby raising the water pressure, whichforces solids contained in the bowl to exit through the siphon into achannel that dumps into sewers. The sucking effect of the siphon helpsthis process along by forcing out the solids in the toilet bowl untilthe level of the mirror reaches its minimum level between the siphon andthe toilet.

Older systems used an elevated 1.5 meter tank to increase the waterpressure and effect a more powerful clearance of the solids in thetoilet bowl. Through improved design of the system ring and siphon, itwas possible to configure the tanks to toilet level, which is morecomfortable for the user to use. Since the invention by John Harringtonthere have been several modifications, mainly in the esthetic design,but maintaining the same basic principles of operation.

In recent years, however, due to a persistent concern for theconservation of water, there has been a need for methods that reduce theconsumption of water. Some known approaches we will be described.

One conventional approach unloads toilets by pressure. These toiletswork though a system of unloading that increases the pressure in thetank through an electric compressor, this method has managed to reducethe water consumption to 4 litters or less, but it has the inconvenienceof using an electric source of energy, and that it is rather complicatedto maintain its electric and mechanic mechanisms, which also increasesits cost of ownership.

A second conventional approach is to recycle dirty water. There havebeen several systems that allow the recycling of sink water as well asthe water of the shower to be used in the toilet. Such systems haveachieved a certain degree of water saving, even without optimizing thetoilet system itself. However, this approach has the inconvenience thatthe guiding of water though pipes is significantly more complex, therebyresulting in substantially more cost.

A third conventional approach relates to mechanic methods that eliminatethe use of the siphon. Such systems make changes in the traditionalsystem by way of valves that avoid using the siphon. These systemsenable toilet bowl content to empty directly into the sewer network,thereby saving water. However, the eliminating of the siphon and the useof other mechanisms have not been generally successful in sealing andeliminating bad odors. For at least this reason, these direct emptyingsystems are not suitable for use in the home or office environments.

A forth conventional approach relates to a differential in the unloadingof the toilet bowl. These methods design the unloading to selectivelyeliminate solids or only liquids. This is accomplished throughmechanisms that pour different amounts of water. However, this way ofmanaging different amounts of water does not optimize the hydraulicsystem.

Typically, exclusively mechanic toilet systems consume at least sixlitters of water per flush. Currently Mexico, United States, and Canadaofficially require a “capacity of unload test” before a toilet isallowed in the marketplace. This test comprises of placing 100 marblesof material of a specific size in a test toilet and making the systemwork. Normally, it is required that a minimum of 75 marbles be unloadedfrom the toilet. Most current systems barely pass the test.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques ofwater conservation in the flushing of toilets. It would be desirable ifsuch systems fulfill the requirements previously described with at most5.6 liters of water by way of improving the toilet's hydraulic system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the principal elements of a toilet inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the water tankportion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 b illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the water tank ofFIG. 2 a; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present inventionhaving an exemplary single feeding channel/duct configuration.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, a variety of water conservation techniques fortoilets are described.

In particular, a water conserving toilet system is provided thatincreases water pressure applied to evacuating solids in the toilet bowlby a multiplicity of means including an embodiment having an optimallyshaped and located water storage tank means, an embodiment optionallyalso having an optimally shaped water feeding channel means. In anaspect of the present invention the water pressure is increased bystoring the water in the internal tank which is located at the top ofthe external tank. Moreover, means are provided, such as an externaltank, to be assembled to the toilet base with fastening means that donot touch the water, thereby making installation easier and reducing therisk of leaks.

Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention willbecome more apparent and be more readily understood from the followingdetailed description, which should be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailedfigures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to theFigures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments.

The present invention is directed to a water closet, or tank, that is asingle piece object, with embodiments including one or two tanks.

An optimized water tank for the conservation of water is presented. FIG.1 illustrates a side view of the principal elements of a toilet inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which willfunctionally described in more detail as follows. An interior tank 1located at the superior part of tank 10 permits the increasing of thewater height contained therein

The present embodiment of interior tank 1 has a generally conic form,which makes the water flow more easily to achieve an optimum potentialenergy required for the proper functioning of the system. This greaterheight and a better conduction of the water, builds the pressureaccording to the relation P=V*H, or pressure (P) is equal to the volume(V) multiplied by the height of the water (H). In one aspect of interiortank 1 as embodied, its conic shape tends to substantially reduce, ifnot eliminate, the accumulation, on its inner surface, of water bornsolid residues and bacteria at least because its generally conic shapeevacuates the stored water with sufficiently high pressure and speed.

A conventional water evacuation system, or valve 2 is constructed usingconventional elements (not shown) and permits the water in interior tank1 to descend through a feeding channel 3, where it falls to a duct 4which is configured to form a curve to help eliminate turbulence andassist the laminate flow, thereby decreasing frictional losses inenergy, where water flow is directed towards a toilet bowl ring 5 with amultiplicity of emptying holes, and depending on the flushing system, anoptional hydraulic pushing jet 6.

The water that flows out of the emptying holes of toilet bowl ring 5enables the water to wash a toilet bowl 7 and simultaneously increasesthe pressure at the bottom of toilet bowl 7 to help the exit of thesolids contained therein through a siphon 8, thereby assisting the exitof the solids.

Hydraulic pushing jet 6 strengthens the exiting force placed upon thesolids by way of the pushing force that the water jet exerts thereon. Itis at this point where an aspect of the present invention provides amore effective approach to evacuating the solids from toilet bowl 7. Aswill be described in some detail below, the present embodiment exerts agreater hydraulic pushing jet pressure than that of conventional systemsby increasing the potential energy of the water in interior tank 1 byway of the greater height of the water contained therein. Similarly, thepressure of the water exiting through the holes in toilet bowl ring 5 islikewise greater than that of conventional systems.

FIG. 2 a illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the water tankportion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 b illustrates a cross-sectional top viewof the water tank of FIG. 2 a. The Figures are more clearly illustrativeof a “superimposed tanks” aspect of the present invention. Thesuperimposed tanks system is constructed in a single piece, although forfunctional purposes are the formed by two pieces, a smaller interiortank 1 contained (inside?) in a bigger exterior tank 10 which supportsinterior tank 1 and is joined to the toilet by fastening system 9 to atoilet mount 11. Bowl mount 11 is located at the top rear location wherethe water tank sits on top of the toilet bowl portion of the toilet. Inthis construction, fastening system 9 is never in contact with thewater. In one aspect of the present invention, water leaks are avoidedby significantly increasing the longevity and robustness of fasteningsystem 9 by way of its having no contact water, thereby avoidingoxidation, corrosion, and damage thereof. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the configuration and location of fastening system 9 inthe present embodiment helps to make assembly easier at least because itprovides ease of access and no obstructions. Moreover, the presentembodiment allows a conventional nut 12 and bolt 13, by way of exampleand not limitation, to be out of sight.

The fabrication process of the present superimposed tanks embodiment ismade relatively more simple than that for conventional approaches atleast because the present embodiment of exterior tank 10 does not have abottom. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that becausethe exterior tank is largely an esthetic and/or protective member, itcontains no water in the present embodiment, and if it were to fracturethere is no alteration in the normal functioning of the present toiletsystem; and, moreover, there will not be any sort of water leak as thewater is contained in interior tank 1.

In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the protectiveexterior tank may not be included, thereby possibly risking damage tothe superior tank. In yet other alternative embodiments of the presentinvention, the superior tank may be formed into other shapes besides agenerally conic one, thereby possibly not being availed of the fullbenefits thereof, yet still taking advantage of the foregoing higherwater position aspect. Moreover, in some application, only one of toiletbowl ring 5 or hydraulic pushing jet 6 may be required and implemented.Similarly, depending on the needs of the particular application, theoptimal designed described above for feeding channel 3 may not berequired possibly because the other advantageous aspects of the presentinvention are adequate, whereby a conventional design for the feedingchannel may be instead used. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternativeembodiment of the present invention having an exemplary single feedingchannel/duct configuration. Some embodiments of the present inventionmay replace the two-piece construction of the feeding channel 3 and duct4 of FIG. 1 with a single angled duct 14 that is properly shaped andangled, whereby the connection between water tank 1 to the toilet bowlring 5 and hydraulic pushing jet 6 is directly by way angled duct 14.The embodiment of FIG. 3 is a one piece toilet configuration, whichtends to have a shorter water closet and is attached to the bowl, not bybolts, but by bonding them from factory with ceramic, or other knowntechniques.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention,other equivalent or alternative methods of water conservation in theflushing of toilets according to the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above byway of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are notintended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. Forexample, the final design may be modified for esthetic and/orapplication dependent reasons (by way of example, and not limitation,not including the protective exterior tank, or changing the superiortank's shape) and is still contemplated as within the scope of thepresent invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A water conserving toilet apparatus comprising: a toilet bowl portionoperatively cooperating with a means for storing water for the flushingout solids in the toilet bowl after engagement of the toilet; and meansfor channeling the toilet bowl water and solids therein out of thetoilet bowl upon engagement of the toilet.
 2. The water conservingtoilet of claim 1, further comprising means for decreasing thefrictional loss of water flowing from said water storing means into thetoilet bowl.
 3. The water conserving toilet of claim 1, furthercomprising means for generating a downward water flow into the toiletbowl water to assist in flushing out solids in the toilet bowl.
 4. Thewater conserving toilet of claim 1, further comprising means for anexterior tank that at least partly covers said water storing means. 5.The water conserving toilet of claim 4, further comprising means forfastening said exterior tank and said water storing means to the toiletbowl portion of the toilet.